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“I needed to find something that was shelf stable, and able to grow, harvest, and sell at different times of the year, particularly as I looked to sell outside labor-intensive sales channels like farmers’ markets,” Simonsen says.

This political journey quickly turned into a personal journey for Simonsen. As she toured farms, a theme repeated itself: “Farm what you love.”

“Meeting humanity’s basic needs should be a given,” says Rubie. “Sadly, even in America, it is not. By focusing on creating an equitable food system we are choosing to provide healthy food for all, living wages for all and setting our visions high for self-sustainable and resilient communities.”  

That class led to Simonsen donning a new hat. She became a consultant for the California Coalition for Rural Housing. The Sacramento nonprofit wanted her 252 curriculum online to serve Native Americans throughout the state.

— HEALTH HAPPENS HERE

Whether you are looking to start or transition into a non-profit career getting started doesn’t have to be daunting. Start with your personal story and reflect on lessons that you are uniquely positioned to understand. 

Simonsen, 27, is now teaching 10 adults to be ecologically-sensitive farmers at a new academy in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood that calls itself 252 Evolver. Consisting of 10 evening workshops spread over five weeks, the program is sponsored by The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities initiative.

By nearly nine ‘o’clock I am dressed in my work boots, jeans, long-sleeve, and sun hat while a peacock blue mug is brimming with hot coffee.

This beloved and fertile legacy, never having been under agricultural production, will now become a small-scale lavender farm, a healing space of spiritual and intellectual richness, and an embodiment of an accumulation of acquired knowledge, resources, experiences, and culture.

Rubie Simonsen, owner of First Mother Farms, grows drought tolerant herbs. This location is one of the first of five urban farm sites through the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program.

Fundraising on the plate shouldn’t be the model in our City. When we profess to support our farmers and be a City of Locavores we should be putting our money where our mouth is.

The young farmer has done so much healing, an outsider might even sense that she is grateful for what she’s been through. “It’s made me stronger,” she says. She claims she is not mad at her ex.

Rubie Simonsen, owner of First Mother Farms, grows drought tolerant herbs. This location is one of the first of five urban farm sites through the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program.